It’s been a great start to the British Supersport Championship season for Mar-Train Racing and Scottish rider Stuart Easton, who has taken four wins and a second place from the opening six races – leaving him just two points off top spot in second place.

It will be all change for team Mar-Train and Easton though come Tuesday morning when all roads will literally point in the direction of Portstewart, Coleraine and Portrush as the 29-year-old takes on the high-speed pure road racing challenge – better known as the International North West 200.

As well as riding his beloved Mar-Train Racing R6 Yamaha in both Supersport races on Thursday night [May 16] and Race Day Saturday, May 18, Easton will have the use of the recently built Mar-Train Racing Yamaha R1 for the two Superbike races at the North West on May 18.

Having tested the bike just a fortnight ago and with another pre-event shakedown scheduled this week, the wily little Scottish rider is getting himself prepared for a return to the roads with the backing of Mar-Train Racing and Yamaha.

Stuart Easton:“Yeah we’ve had a really good start to the British Supersport Championship but as everyone knows the road racing scene is a little bit different. Alastair Seeley is the man to beat at the North West and the pressure is on him to perform, but we know what we are capable of at Mar-Train Racing and if things go to plan, there’s no reason why we can’t be celebrating.

"With regards to the R1, we’ve only tested it once to sort out some fuelling issues and to get myself comfortable on the bike. I’ll be getting another run on it this week and while it’s a bit of an unknown, we do know how capable the R1 has been in the British Superbike Championship and we know that it’s fast – so yes I’m looking forward to riding it at the North West.”

Tim Martin – Team Principal:“Anyone that’s involved in bike racing locally has to be a fan of the North West and I’m no different. It’s a great event that I’ve always enjoyed and now that we have someone with Stuart’s pedigree on our bikes, I have to be honest and say the whole team is pretty excited about the week ahead. Adding the R1 for the Superbike class gives us four races at the meeting, and whilst the British Supersport Championship remains our number one goal this season – we will enjoy the week on the North Coast, and if podium champagne is offered up, we’ll be happy to spray it, that’s for sure!”